The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-03-23
A PECULIAR ACCIDENT,
Many Men Swept From the New
York Elevated Railroad.
Hurled Into the Street While Walk
ing on the Track.

The most serious accident that has ever oc-
CURED on the line. of the Elevated road in
New York City since the first rail of that
structure was laid happened at forty minutes
past 6 o'clock Tuesday morning on the Third
avenue road between Fourteenth and Fif-
teenth streets. At that time fire was raging
in the store Of Nicoll, the tailor, on the Bow
cry, and the cars were blockaded from
Broome street to Sixty-ffth street, dis
tance Of over three miles. At this
hour in the morning the East
side Elevated trains are filed for the most
part with laboring men and artisans on their
way to their daily work, and the loss of time
caused by the blockade was q serious delay to
them. At length, wearying Of wait
ing, a crowd Of passengers left the
train nearest the Fourteenth street
street station, and started down the footpath
timid men crawled on their hands and knees
along the trestle work, while others, bolder
and more impatient, walked upright. A few
had gained the platform when the blockade
was raised and the train started in motion.
When the train started, the gatemen closed
their gates to prevent any more passengers
from getting down. But one Of those who
had already left the train-a half-grown
boy whose name is not hown-thinking
to resume his ride, caught at the plat,
form between the first and second
cars, and attempted to get on. The
train was in motion, and the engine was
abreast of the station. The platform at which
he caught was twenty or thirty feet north Of
the northerly end of the station platform. He
caught hold Of the closed gate, and found
lodgment for one foot on the iron step under
the edge of the platform. In this
position his body was bent, ex-
tending outward over the narrow
and crowded track walk. In moment he
man, now supposed to be Judas Sinai, the
aged Polander who was killed This man,
losing his balance by the shock, gave cry Of
alarm and caught his nearest neigh
Dor to save himself That man
clutched a third, and with united cry
the three went over, falling to the pavement
in heap. The boy held on and knocked more
men down.
The cries Of these men created panic
among those on the walk between them and
the station, and q rush was made along the
narrow walk to the platform for safety.
As nearly as can be determined, the first
three men were crowded from the walk,
eighteen or twenty feet north of the station.
From that point to the station the track
walk was full Of people. Those nearest
the station caught at the railing and
endeavored to- climb up and over it.
Those behind crowded upon and pulled
at them. Those still further back
shouted and pushed and struggled to get on,
imperiling the lives Of all by their frantic
haste. And in this wild scramble on that
narrow and unguarded footway seven were
forced off, falling to the street below. The
boy who had begun the mischief let 20 and
Joined the crowd on the platform. He got
off SAFE
When the train came to standstill and the
panic was in a measure checked, two hideous
piles Of bruised and helpless humanity lay in
the street below. Just in front of Stewards
oyster house was a pile of three bod
les, nearly motionless and with only q
slight muscular movement observable In
it. Two Of these bodies were Sinai
and Matthews. About twenty feet further
down the street and just beneath the point
where the overhead structure widens to form
the station platform, was another pile, more
scattered and struggling than the first, as it
contained the greater number of bodies, there
being seven in it. These had fallen originally
one upon the other, but those falling on top
being less seriously injured than those be-
meath, twisted, and rolled and worked them
selves off until they were scattered upon
the muddy pavement. But the horrible
picture remained only moment in
view. Before all its details could be
observed q score of willing workers
were gatheing up the bodies and conveying
them to the sidewalk. Three men were dead,
and fourth died at the hospital in the after
noon. Six men were dangerously injured.